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Romantic Montmartre

With its narrow thoroughfares, old street lanterns and breathtaking views, Montmartre is without doubt the most romantic area of Paris. Even climbing the stairs up to this neighbourhood on the hill has something magical about it. Welcome to the perfect spot for a walk, dinner or cosy night in a hotel.

Montmartre used to be a small village surrounded by vineyards. In the nineteenth century it became a spot where artists converged and was later annexed by Paris. Great artists like Claude Monet, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Vincent van Gogh lived and worked here, and the atmosphere of those days can still be felt in many areas. Montmartre remains a truly special place.

 The view of the Sacré Coeur from Montmartre

Paris

Van Gogh was here

Many houses where celebrities used to live are still intact. You’ll also find signboards saying things like ‘Hemingway once used the lavatory here’ in cafés and other establishments. One of the most famous atelier complexes is Le Bateau-Lavoir on Place Émile Goudeau where Pablo Picasso regularly worked. Famous people also came together to drink wine in the Moulin de la Galette on Rue Lepic, a former windmill which is now a restaurant. Vincent van Gogh lived in the same street at number 54.

A wall of love

In the heart of Montmartre is Place des Abbesses. Its main attraction is the entrance to the metro station Abbesses. This is one of only three remaining fully enclosed entrances designed by architect Hector Guimard in the early twentieth century. The entrance is in itself an icon of the Parisian metro, thanks to its cast-iron floral texture and distinctive gilded Métropolitain sign.

The ultimate ode to love is hidden behind Place des Abbesses. Since October 2000, the Square Jehan-Rictus garden has featured a special artwork, Le mur des je t’aime. This 'Wall of I Love Yous' has more than 300 declarations of love inscribed in 250 languages on 612 tiles. The artist Frédéric Baron wanted to show that a wall could also be a symbol of togetherness and love as well as a form of separation.

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The art nouveau metro entrance to Abbesses

Lights in the dark

Montmartre turns into a fairy tale world in the evenings when the atmospheric street lighting is switched on. This is the perfect moment to climb the stairs up to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica and enjoy the lights of the city and the sparkling Eiffel Tower. Bring a bottle of wine and a baguette and enjoy a view that no Parisian bar or restaurant can match. In the summer, this delightful picture is completed by the sight of busking musicians and other street artists.